PDEA’s ‘Sagip Batang Solvent’ to Rescue Street Children Against Drug Use

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) launched a rescue program focusing on street children involved in drug use.

Dubbed as “Sagip Batang Solvent”, the program aims to rescue street children from drug trade and drug abuse.

PDEA Director General Aaron N. Aquino said what these children need is a sense of belonging.

“They belong to their homes under their parents’ care, and in schools where they are supposed to learn and grow, not in the streets where they are left to fend for themselves, “Aquino said.

The PDEA chief added that the agency emphasizes the important role of parents in keeping these kids off the streets.

“The parents, as head of the basic unit of society, must be responsible for starting anti-drug awareness and prevention in the family,” Aquino said.

Under the project, PDEA will establish homey facilities to rehabilitate and reform rescued street children in the communities.

General interventions, like education, talent and skills development, dual training system, in partnership with industries, counselling and values formation, volunteerism program, and livelihood and entrepreneurship training, will also be provided.

To develop the protocols of the program, a Technical Working Group (TWG) headed by the PDEA- Preventive Education and Community Involvement Service (PECIS) was created.

PDEA is set to hold a series of consultative meetings with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), local government units and local police, and other stakeholders, to thresh out issues and concerns prior to the project’s launching and implementation nationwide.

The basic components of the rescue program will be anchored on the provisions of Republic Act 9165, or “The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002”; RA 9344, or “The Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006”; Presidential Decree (PD) No.1619 or “Penalizing the use or possession or the unauthorized sale to minors of volatile substances for the purpose of inducing intoxication or in any manner changing, distorting or disturbing the auditory, visual or mental process”; United Nations on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) Plan of Action; and UN Children’s Rights.

Meanwhile, PDEA is also appealing to big corporations and business owners to include Project: “Sagip Batang Solvent” as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) and support the government’s drug demand reduction efforts by lending financial assistance.

“Poor families and their children are easily lured into illegal drug activities for lack of any decent means of livelihood. This mirrors the prevailing sociological aspect of the drug problem. Poverty alleviation is a necessary component for success in the national anti-drug campaign, and this is one area where big corporations as benefactors can help the government,” Aquino said.

He added that education and skills trainings are permanent solutions to the problem. It is about time we have a rescue program solely designed for children to keep them off the streets for good. (PDEA/PIA-NCR)